Woodite, a newly invented preparation of caoutchouc—so called from
the name of its inventor—is attracting considerable attention at the
present time. In woodite are united the useful elastic properties of
india-rubber together with the advantages of immunity from injury by
fire or salt water. The specific gravity of woodite is only one-tenth
that of iron or steel; whilst the cost of the new material, as compared
with these metals, is estimated to be as three to seven, or rather less
than one half. Such facts fully explain the importance attached to the
proposition now being made to utilise woodite as a protection—either
internal or external, as regards the vessel’s skin—to men-of-war and
torpedo boats. Experiments recently made to ascertain the behaviour of
woodite under fire were as satisfactory as conclusive, and established
the interesting fact, that the caoutchouc closed up again so thoroughly
and instantaneously, after the passage of the shot, that no leakage
resulted, though the vessel was pierced below waterline.
The value of a material possessed of such qualities for naval purposes
cannot be overestimated; whilst in a variety of other ways, woodite
appears likely to play a not unimportant part in the near future. In
the construction of lifeboats, a material so buoyant and indestructible
cannot fail to be of service; whilst for lining quay walls, harbour
entrances, piers, landing-stages, and the numberless cases where it
is desirable to moderate the force of impact, woodite should be found
of the greatest value. In the case of a collision at sea, a vessel
fortified internally or externally with woodite would be more likely to
remain afloat, than, _cæteris paribus_, one not similarly protected.
In an age when every effort is made to secure the requisite buoyancy
in our huge floating citadels, heavily laden with ponderous armour and
gigantic ordnance, a material combining buoyancy in so high a degree,
with its other advantages, cannot but be destined, in the opinion of
competent judges, to play a brilliant part; whilst its future in the
more peaceful arts cannot fail to be equally commensurate with its
merits.